Reliquary of Saint Thekla
Reliquary of Saint Thekla
Reliquary of Saint Thekla
Reliquary of Saint Thekla

Currently not on view

Reliquary of Saint Thekla,

late 15th–early 16th century

German
y1954-127
This bust reliquary of Saint Thekla might have housed a relic from her upper body or simply reflected the active presence of the saint. Thekla holds her instruments of torture-a column with flames licking at its base and a lioness. Saint Paul converted Thekla, a young pagan woman from Iconium (in modern-day Turkey). Condemned to death when she refused to renounce her faith, she was taken to the arena to be burned at the stake. A miraculous thunderstorm saved her from the flames. After joining Paul in his mission, she was sentenced to be thrown to wild beasts in the arena at Antioch. The lioness sent to attack her sat tamely at her feet; when a bear was released to kill the saint, the lioness protected her.
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More About This Object

MDVccards: The Arts of Pilgrimage

Information

Title
Reliquary of Saint Thekla
Dates

late 15th–early 16th century

Medium
Wood with polychromy
Dimensions
51.3 x 35.0 x 21.6 cm (20 3/16 x 13 3/4 x 8 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Alastair B. Martin, Class of 1938
Object Number
y1954-127
Place Made

Europe, Germany

Culture
German
Type
reliquaries, reliquary figures, sculpture
Materials
wood, paint
Subject
flames, saints, gold (color), religious art, polychromy, lions, crowns (headdresses), red, women, wood, reddish brown, figures (representations), blue

Private collection, Munich (1943) [1]. Alastair B. Martin; 1954 gift to Princeton University Art Museum.

[1] according to Braun, "Tracht und Attribute..."

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